Day: September 5, 2018

The 2018-2019 flu season is fast approaching. Here’s what you should know.

The summer isn’t a ripe time for most influenza strains because, researchers posit, the cold and dry weather conditions of the fall and winter make it easier for flu viruses to thrive (dryness and low humidity may actually also make it easier for the flu to attack the lungs). That’s not to say it never happens—but usually, people who present flu-like symptoms in the late summer or beginning of September (such as fever, body aches, a cough, congestion, diarrhea, etc.) actually have some other kind of virus such as the one that causes gastroenteritis (which is commonly, and misleadingly, referred to as the stomach flu).

So how long is the flu season?

The more commonly accepted timeline of the flu season, when people are usually hospitalized for flu and flu-like illnesses, lasts between October and late April/early May. Peak flu season most commonly occurs between December and February, with February typically presenting the highest number of cases, according to CDC data. That trend will likely hold true for the 2018 season, too.

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A man who was upset about an officer-involved shooting intentionally crashed his truck into the side of the studios for FOX 4 in Dallas early Wednesday before jumping out of the vehicle and started ranting before he was arrested, officials said.

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Michael Scott was an essential, yet ridiculous character on The Office. Because of this, there are many things about him that don’t add up.

In the pilot of The Office, he closes a sale with ease, but mistakenly refers to the female client as “sir.” He deflects the embarrassment by claiming that she must have been a smoker.

Throughout the series, Michael makes similar blunders, much to the chagrin of his co-workers and whoever else he surrounds himself with.

After the first season, Michael becomes a much more sympathetic and likable character. The mistakes, bizarre decisions, and ignorance continue, but they become somewhat endearing.

Viewers still continue to cringe as they watch Michael make a fool of himself, but they also have reverence for him at the same time.

The result of this is Michael Scott becoming one of the most interesting characters in modern sitcom – a lovable goofball that provides countless laughs.

The Office takes its viewers on a journey with Michael as he manages, or tries to manage, a simple paper company. Along the way, there are a lot of decisions that just do not make much sense. Some of them are simple head-scratchers made by Michael’s character while others are bizarre decisions made by the writers of the show.

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A train struck and killed a 16-year-old boy Tuesday morning in Jeannette, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher and the coroner’s office.

The coroner’s office identified the teen as Jonathon Brown of Jeanette and said he died from blunt force injuries.

The coroner’s office said Brown was walking east on the track. A Norfolk Southern conductor and engineer saw him about 7:30 a.m. on the tracks near Magee Avenue and Sixth Street. The train’s brakes were activated and its horn sounded, but Brown remained on the track, according to investigators.

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The drama surrounding a $400,000 GoFundMe account established for a homeless Philadelphia veteran continues.

The drama surrounding a $400,000 GoFundMe account established for a homeless Philadelphia veteran continued this week as the attorney representing Johnny Bobbit Jr. said the money is all gone.

Last month, the “paying it forward” fundraiser went from heartwarming to downright ugly after the New Jersey couple was accused by Bobbit — the man they were supposed to be helping — of using the funds for lavish trips and other personal expenses.

Bobbit filed a lawsuit against the couple, Kate McClure and Mark D’Amico. The couple was subsequently ordered to turn over the remainder of the $400,000 raised for Bobbit, a former Marine, to his attorney. They were also ordered to provide information on how the rest of the money was spent.

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Former Republican senator Jon Kyl was named Tuesday to succeed the late Sen. John McCain, with the announcement coming at the start of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh — which could be the new senator’s first big vote.